Life's Journeys With May Olusola 44

These taunts laid the foundation for many pity parties. “Why me?” was the question I used to put before God, and whenever my mother came home from work and saw I’d been crying, she would try her best to convince me I was beautiful. Her words had a way of gently draining away the malicious words I had suffered.

It was only after someone came up with the idea of providing Gidado with a handcrafted wooden wagon (measuring around four feet) to get around in that Gidado started to rise above his pain and misery. With the help of his family and friends who took Gidado where he needed to go, he made the most of a very delicate situation and lived a “normal life.”

“What, capital murder? Me? I have never harmed anyone. Me? Are you sure?” Graves’ pleas fell on deaf ears, despite the lack of any physical evidence linking him to the crime. Thus, he was accused of killing a family he had never even met.

Rather than stay in the presence of the God that kept her from day one, Angela began spending a lot of time in the presence of Derrick till she agreed to marry him based on trust and the fact that he was now the assistant pastor of a church. During the course of their marriage, Angela began seeing an unattractive side of Derrick that disturbed her.

Deepak Mahtani had everything he ever dreamed of in life: money, a flourishing company, class, and business degrees from Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan, and American College, Switzerland. He followed his family’s tradition of serving the Eastern gods and rested assured that he was living life to the fullest.

To lose one parent is almost unbelievable. To have lost both parents is unimaginable What I miss the most is before he was anything else, he was dad. He was dad in my life. People wouldn’t fathom this intellectual icon who they see on stage.

I was raped at 8 years old by my uncle, but it was too late because they already had me in church. Though the rape caused homosexual desires and activities as my years went on, it was too late because the seed of righteousness was inside and they had trained up a child in the way that he should go.

My mom must have thought I was sleeping when she began to sing in a bare whisper: “Comforter, Jesus is my Comforter, Alleluia Comforter, Jesus is my Comforter, Alleluia Comforter, Jesus is my Comforter, Jesus is my Comforter, I am not afraid.”

Beijing is the second most populated city in China. It is more conservative, cultural, educational and historical. Unlike Shanghai, the rhythm is slower and the skyline is free of skyscraper battles. There is interesting architecture scattered all over the place. Some interesting ones include the Beijing National Stadium and CCTV headquarters.

You would expect the daughter of H.L. Hunt, the late oil tycoon and one of the wealthiest people in the world at the time of his death in 1974, to act a certain way, to move in expected circles, and to maintain an intimidating aura that can shake even the bravest of hearts. This is not the case with June Hunt, the 12th of 14 Hunt children. Witty, charming, kindhearted, and extremely down to earth, her presence exudes peace--not the kind that comes from the world, but the one from the Word of God that surpasses all understanding

As daunting as the task of finding the man seemed, Simonarson was up for it. He turned to social media and launched a Twitter account #BuyPens. Within 30 mins, a twitter user @CaptainMaj wrote Simonarson saying he saw the man around his house on a daily basis.

Place your shoes in a shoe bag and place them at the bottom of your luggage
* Roll your pants and blouses and skirts
* For dresses, I like to put them in that plastic that you get from the cleaners and fold them over once and place on top of everything else.
* Don't forget your pajamas or lounge wear

Many times I find myself wondering what the word “love” means. Does it really hold no record of wrongs even if you’re constantly afflicted by mental anguish and scorned with disrespect? Is it really unconditional selflessness that encourages you to forgive your offender 70 times seven even if they grieve your spirit beyond comprehension? Is there really love at first sight, or is love an emotion that develops with time and friendship? Last, is it true that love is blind and marriage is the eye opener?

Looking back, was that the epitome of idleness, or what? My act of digging up the past from the grave of yesterday never failed to fatten me with grasps of bitterness. By the time I was through with this sheepish ritual that I find hard to believe I used to partake in, there were always two consequences.

The Eiffel Tower was number one on the list. On getting to Paris, we learned of one of France’s most visited tourist attraction; an impressive Palace in Versailles also known as Chateau de Versailles. We jumped at the opportunity and set out to Versailles, a 45 minute drive from the center of Paris. Nothing prepared us for the jaw dropping magnificence that greeted us. All that glittered here was gold!

“Stop believing the lie that someone stopped you,” Thelma Wells says. “Stop blaming folks for you being here. People have to earn your respect and you theirs before you can preach to them. You have to have love and show it to win people and respect.”

The hustle and bustle of our daily lives have a way of pulling us in different directions that either make or break our day. There is nothing as refreshing as seeking solace in the Word of God and encouragement from great quotes.

Prominent evangelical Senior Pastor of the Bahamas Faith Ministries International Fellowship, Dr. Myles Munroe, died along with his wife, Ruth Ann and 7 others when the Lear 36 executive jet they were travelling in struck a crane at the grand Bahama ship yard and exploded on impact.

It was a hot Saturday afternoon with the sun doing a harsh number on my skin and my mind trying to seek refuge in something cold or sweet. It was at this junction of decision that the smell of pizza gently filtered into my nose. “Hmmn, that pizza smells so good; can we stop and have a slice I asked?” My fourteen year old son looked at me in disbelief. “Control mommy, control” he whispered in my ears. Although he was right on the money with the emphasis he placed on the word “control”, I bullied him into immediate silence by letting him know that “this hungry mom is an angry mom that can change her mind about taking him shopping.”

I walked around the building twice and didn’t find my son. I alerted security in the recreation facility, which was attached to a large shopping mall, and they began searching in earnest. Thirty minutes went by, and there was no sign of my beloved son. As I walked around, I had been confessing, “Lord, you cannot suffer me to be disgraced; You promised You will never leave or forsake me.”

I must have talked and pleaded with about three different reservations clerks. My pleas fell on deaf ears till I started looking like a nuisance from the planet of stubbornness. After the third person said no, I gave up and began heading for the exit door.

We all know there are wolves in sheep’s clothing, green snakes under the green grass, and all that glitters is not gold. But for some reason, when it comes to new friends, rather than do our homework, we’re quick to trust them until their true motive is exposed and our heart bleeds from the wound of betrayal. Some people are not that fortunate; the blow they received was so fatal, and they ended up six feet under.

May is a very special month for me. Mothers are honored on Mother’s Day, and I celebrate my birthday on the first day of the month--that should answer any questions about how I got my name. I want to seize this opportunity to wish all mothers a very happy Mother’s Day and congratulate them on the difficult but rewarding role of raising children. For those single men raising children in place of their mother, all I can say is you are blessed. Keep up the good work.